HEADQUARTERS SECOND RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS,
Near Hagerstown, Md., July 10, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to respectfully report that the regiment which I have the honor to command has been constantly moving since June 6.

The demonstration on the south side of the Rappahannock, below Fredericksburg, to keep the enemy’s troops in that neighborhood, consumed little more than a week, as we recrossed to the north side of the river on the night of June 13.
We at once began our march northward, with the rest of the Sixth Corps, via Dumfries, Fairfax Court-House, Centreville, Dranesville, Edwards Ferry, Poolesville, New Market, and Manchester, halting here and there a day or two.

Passing through Maryland, we pushed into Pennsylvania, and arrived in the vicinity of Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 2, where we found a battle then going on. We were at once put into position on the extreme left, and lay on our arms all night on the field of battle.

The next day, July 3, was the hottest of the battle, and this was the severest engagement of the war. The brigade to which we are attached was constantly in posts of danger, but being used as a reserve, it was always sent to the points most pressed, and, though much exposed, was not directly engaged, but lay, seeing the fight progress, until our services were more actively needed, but we were not called on to fire a shot.

Never have I seen or heard of severer fighting. The field was bloody in the extreme. Our loss in this battle was 1 killed and 5 wounded. Killed: Private Charles Powers, Company C. Wounded: Corpl. John Leavitt, Company B, face; Private William McWilliams, Company E, hand; Private George Young, Company F, hand and arm; Private R. Barnett, Company H, knee and face; Private William Thomas, Company H, back.

Though the regiment has marched hundreds of miles in the last month, and performed much arduous duty, it is, I am happy to state, in excellent health and spirits.

I am, general, yours, very respectfully,

H. ROGERS,
JR., Colonel Second Rhode Island Volunteers.

General E. C. MAURAN,
Adjutant-General of Rhode Island.

Horatio Rogers